We are usually stuck with whoever our insurance company says is in network. They are under contract with the insurance company, not us. They have little incentive to make us happy.
Read as much as you can on this forum as well as recommendations an reviews from the on line suppliers listed on this forum. Than determine what YOU want and get your doctor to put your request in writing on your RX. That way any help you get from your DME is incidental, and armed with knowledge and a very specific RX you can fight for exactly what you want, even from a less cooperative DME.

I think a good start is to call all the local ones and ask them if they will vend the specific machine you request. Some will try to pocket the difference and sell you a lesser model.

Here's my biased view:

I found all the information that I needed about getting started with CPAP and how to manage my treatment right here on this forum. Therefore, I did not need advice or guidance from a DME. Also, due to my specific insurance plan and deductibles, it was cheaper for me to use an online supplier than to go to a brick & mortar DME. I did not miss anything from skipping the DME.

I realize that not everyone is capable of getting the right information for themselves or going online, and for some the assistance of a DME is second to none (literally). Also some insurance policies make it financially advantageous to use the DME to stock up on CPAP supplies. You have to be careful though because if the DME starts auto-replenishing your supplies as frequently as insurance allows, and if you have high deductibles and copays, they will bury you.

So if they give you what you want, and they do it on your schedule, I would say that's a good DME. As for any advice they give... best to get a second opinion regardless. This is a great place for that.

Thanks for the insight! I'm bummed out because I have no idea of what I'm doing is working. It looks like a scam when the doctor owns the sleep clinic, say's you need a CPAP machine, you get one and no one seems to care of it's working or not.

I have data from Sleepyhead but in spite of trying to understand it, I'm lost. I'm just about to go back to an in mouth appliance to stop the snoring and let it go at that.

INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.

(08-30-2013 08:24 PM)SleepEZ Wrote: Based on my experience, avoid Apria. They're nationwide, and their phone system and customer service response are awful.

Hi SleepEZ,
My experience with Apria is the same !! I asked for itemized billing statements thinking that I was being double billed and they said " Why do I care ? I only paid 20 percent of the bill !!". My DME tech is great but Apria SUCKS !!! Their customer service is not awful, it is non-existant (maybe they are based in China !!!)
)

INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.